Councillors and committees

Agenda item

SURREY CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACADEMY

Purpose of the Report: To set out plans to establish an Academy to drive and co-ordinate learning and development across the whole children’s workforce in Surrey.

Minutes:

Witnesses:

Sheila Norris, Consultant on the Surrey Children’s Services Academy Design
Dave Hill, Director of Children, Families and Learning
Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children

Key points raised in the discussion:

  1. Officers explained that the scope of the proposed Academy was to work with the core and wider workforce and was designed to be ambitious in its scope. It was explained that the creation of the academy would develop the workforce and ensure:

 

  1. that it is confident and successful;
  2. that it would create a single unified model for the workforce and partners;
  3. and that it would aim to change the culture of working.

 

It was noted that the Academy was in its early stages of development and concept design.

  1. It was explained that the service was looking to redesign the current learning and development offer and were working alongside partners and staff to aid in shaping the design of this model. Officers noted that there were plans to include common areas of induction with partners and potential shared leadership training.

  2. Officers noted that the new Academy would, when active in early 2019, fit into the Children, Families and Learning Quality Assurance Directorate.

  3. The Committee questioned whether it would be possible to explain the role of Members and how they can be utilised as a means of improving the support network for frontline workers as part of the proposed learning and development programme.

  4. Members questioned retention figures and asked how the Academy would work to resolve the current issue of retention of social workers. It was noted that there was a trend of a drop off in retention after two years of employment. Officers noted that there was the current Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) Academy and that this was designed for NQSW’s only, with a drop off in support after two years. While it was noted that the NQSW Academy had received praise in the Ofsted report (2018), it was explained that the new proposals hoped to expand upon this success. It was explained that the new Academy was aimed to provide support for staff and partners on a longer term basis, which aimed to improve morale and long term retention.

  5. Members questioned the performance indicators of the new Academy; including the success criteria and potential response to the proposals not meeting these criteria. It was noted that success could be measured by retention of social care staff and management improvement evidenced through audit. It was suggested that these could be built into the launch of the Academy.

  6. It was noted that officers had been looking at best practice across similar models in other authorities, such as Essex County Council, where a similar model had been implemented for social workers only. It was noted that best practice in implementing support and progression for staff and partners had been looked at to help develop this project.

  7. Officers noted that there was a potential for future provision for the recruitment of apprentice social workers, noting that the service was keen to explore this as a potential future option for improving retention and increased numbers of “home-grown” social workers.

  8. Officers clarified that the design model and budget for the proposed Academy was being formulated and would be shared with the Committee before implementation. It was noted that there would be a need for a short term investment but that the Directorate would look to streamline the current learning and development offer to reduce costs and also that improved retention would over time reduce agency costs.

  9. Officers stressed that the Academy could not be viewed in isolation as a “fix-all” but must be seen as a part of the overall transformation programme of the Children, Families and Learning Directorate.

  10. Officers highlighted that the Academy would begin initial operation in early 2019, with the launch of its learning and development offer. It was stressed that the Academy would continue to be developed over the long term.

  11. The Cabinet Member for Children stressed the need for professional development to ensure that the service undertakes its rapid improvement, and that the development of the Academy was a key component of this.

Recommendations:

  1. That the Cabinet Member ensures that the service works with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Children and Education Select Committee to embed into the development of the business case for the Children’s Academy measureable success criteria, including:

 

  1. Incremental improvement upon the rates of retention of social care staff;
  2. Improvement and maintenance of professional standards in Children’s Services;

 

Which can be used as key performance indicators for the Academy upon start of its operation in early 2019.

  1. That the proposed model for the Children’s Service Academy be circulated to the Committee before its start of operation in January 2019.

 

Supporting documents: